National chooses Simon Bridges for new leader

Mr Bridges, aged 41, is the MP for Tauranga and was first elected to Parliament in 2008.

The caucus (all elected National Party MPs) gathered in Parliament to vote on the new leader on Tuesday morning. Each of the five candidates made a presentation, and then the vote will took place.

To win, a candidate needed at least 29 votes from the 56 National MPs. If there was no outright majority in the first round of voting, the lowest-scoring MPs dropped out and those who voted for them recast their vote.